Countries With the Longest Life Expectancy

The population of the United States is certainly graying. But when it comes to living the longest, the mainland U.S. isn’t even in the top twenty. Men who make it to age 60 in Iceland are likely to live an average of 22.5 years more, compared to just 20 years for American men. U.S. men came is 30th just behind Panama and slightly ahead of Belgium. The U.S. women placed 26th internationally between the Republic of Korea and the Netherlands. American women are likely to live 24 years past age 60, well behind Japan’s graying women who are likely to live nearly 28 years. Here’s a look at how the top countries stack up.

Life Expectancy from Age 60 in Years

Male                                                        Female

1 Iceland 22.48                                    1 Japan 27.76

2 China, Hong Kong 22.39               2 China, Hong Kong, SAR 4 26.78

3 Switzerland 22.24                           3 France 26.18

4 Japan 22.13                                     4 Switzerland 26.12

5 Australia 22.01                                 5 South Africa 25.97

6 Israel 21.89                                      6 United States, Virgin Islands 25.67

7 Canada 21.70                                  7 Australia 25.65

8 Costa Rica 21.61                            8 Italy 25.49

9 Sweden 21.38                                 9 Puerto Rico 25.40

10 New Zealand 21.33                    10 Martinique 25.24

30 United States 20.30                   26 United States 24.21

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2007.

The bottom line for your retirement: Once you make it to age 60, men in the developed world are likely to live 20 years or more and women should plan for at least 25 years.